The last thing newly engaged plumber Tom Paretski needs is to stumble over another dead body. He’s got enough on his mind already as the reality of his impending marriage sinks in. Not only is his family situation complicated, his heroism at a pub fire made him a local celebrity. Now everyone and their uncle wants a piece of his psychic talents. Hired to find a missing necklace, Tom and his fiance, private investigator Phil Morrison, wind up trying to unmask a killer – and there’s no shortage of suspects, up to and including the local bishop himself. As Tom and Phil try to uncover the truth, they find themselves pulled in all different directions by the conflicting pressures of their families and their own desires. But the murderer they’re up against is a ruthless schemer who won’t hesitate to kill again. If Tom and Phil aren’t careful, their love – and all their plans for the future – could be blown down like a house of straw.

Warning: Contains a bishop of questionable Christian charity, a necklace of questionable taste, and a plumber of questionable nationality who may be running out of time.

JL Merrow is that rare beast, and English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.

She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and and mysteries, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novel Slam!won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy and her novella Muscling Through and novel Relief Valve were both EPIC Awards Finalists.

JL Merrow is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, International Thriller Writers, Verulam Writers’ Circle and the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team. Find JL Merrow online at www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jl.merrow

Release Date: March 18, 2016 Published by Dreamspinner Press Review Copy from Author

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Final book in the Dirty Series arc.

Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

OUR THOUGHTS:

Get ready, Cole McGinnis fans, because Dirty Heart is exactly the conclusion to this series you’ve been waiting for. Rhys Ford wraps up the final installment with all the mystery, suspense, and intrigue we’ve come to expect and the sweet, smoldering romance we know and love. (With a healthy dose of Korean swearing thrown in.)

I’ll admit I was apprehensive to begin reading knowing this is the final story in this arc, but I couldn’t be happier with the way Ford ties up all the loose ends. I’m not sure how I’ll manage to part ways with Cole and Jae – that won’t be easy. Their story is one that draws me in and makes me part of their world as if I’m right there with them whether it’s tender moments or terrifying bloodshed. Reading those final lines is definitely like saying goodbye to old friends, but I have a feeling I’ll be back to visit from time to time. These are the kind of stories you read again and again, finding new details with each reread.

At risk of spoiling anything about this book – it’s certainly something you should experience firsthand – I’ll be deliberately vague. What I will say is it’s pretty much no holds barred; no one’s safe, and danger is out there, rearing its ugly head at every turn. Jae is back in all his awesome Jae-ness while Cole’s up to the usual – solving impossibly complicated mysteries involving extremely dangerous people. Ford holds us in suspense as she cleverly works her plot, making what seem like a million complex twists and turns before finally revealing the answers to questions new and old. Untangling the web is a bit messy to say the least, but man, is it oh so satisfying.

If you’re new to this series, congrats! You’ve stumbled upon an amazing mystery series in completion which means no waiting for new books! For the rest of us, it’s a somber see ya later to characters we know and love. Thank you, Rhys Ford, for a fantastic ride.

It’s only been three weeks since Henry woke up to discover his husband, Tom, had vanished. He’s still struggling to come to terms with his new reality when he receives a haunting phone call: “Henry. Help me.” It’s Tom’s voice, but Henry is afraid to believe. His world has already come crashing down around him twice in the last six months. Is Tom really alive, or is Henry losing his grip on reality?

OUR THOUGHTS:WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING??

Tom? Is that you? Are you there? Is this real?

Carter Quinn gave us a tiny- minuscule – sliver of hope at the end of the first Vanished book that maybe, by some miracle, Tom hadn’t died after all. Where does that leave poor, heartbroken Henry? He’s already suffered a breakdown because he’s so bereft and can’t fathom moving on, but that’s what he must do in this next installment of the series. It’s all about moving forward, one foot in front of the other, staying firmly rooted in reality. Needless to say someone has other plans.

You see, that’s when it starts – more of those little glimmers of hope. Just as Henry’s finally making strides toward his new normal, he hears Tom’s voice in an anonymous phone call as if he’s reaching out beyond the grave. The longer it continues the more I imagine someone is fabricating the entire thing; my main questions are who and why? But most of all I’m back to my very original question: WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?

The main suspects for me? Tom’s parents. They have to be involved in this somehow, right? Their business dealings are everywhere and suspiciously connected to Henry’s professional life. Their recent activity raises some flags for sure. Beyond that it seems that it could be anyone, but I’m reminded that often in mysteries it’s the person you least expect. Carter Quinn does a masterful job of keeping you guessing.

Overall this is a fantastic continuation of the Vanished series. I didn’t feel the disconnect from book one to book two you often find, and the characters are consistent as are the mood and pace. Quinn methodically – almost maddeningly – weaves an intricate, emotional story that gives you satisfying answers while leaving the door open for still more questions.

Blurb:

After declaring his love life officially dead, Rich wonders if maybe he should stick with his shifter book boyfriends instead. It’s not as if he has much free time to date anyway. Between working long hours at a coffee shop, guarding his sodas from his hygienically challenged roommates, and running the programming at the Vegas LGBTQ teen shelter he founded – how could there ever be space for love in his life?

Diego Espinoza enjoys taking his downtime from working Search and Rescue, at the Lucky Cup coffee shop. He can set up his laptop, peruse good sport climbing spots and observe the blond barista he’s been pining over for a while. He imagines that the pretty boy has more offers than he knows what to do with, so it takes Diego time to work up the nerve to approach him.

Rich isn’t so sure about the rough looking Diego – even if he’s always thought he was hot – but once he decides to gives Diego a chance, there’s an immediate heat and connection that takes him by surprise. As they learn more about each other and try to find the way to a future together, strange and scary things start to happen.

It isn’t until Rich is injured in a bizarre accident that it becomes clear that there’s someone out there who not only doesn’t want Rich to find love – they want him dead.

Excerpt:

“Whazzup, Rich.” Artie smacked him on the back. “Hey, you too.” Artie had turned his attention to Espinoza. “You’re here kinda early aren’t you? You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you all these months, are you like a biker or something? Those other guys that meet you here sometimes, are they like your gang? Ooh. Wait. Maybe you’re one of the stuntmen who do that show on the strip where the-“

“Here.” Rich shoved a clipboard at Artie that he’d retrieved from under the counter. “I need you to go in the back and do a cup and lid count.” He handed him the bent up, disheveled sleeves. “These too. Do a damage inventory and mark how many need to be replaced.”

Artie frowned at him. “Huh? We don’t usually do that till Monday. And besides, it’s morning. Don’t you need me to-“

“Please, Artie.” Rich placed a hand to his forehead. He thought he might be getting a headache. “I’d really like you to do this right now. I’ll call you out if I get too busy.”

“But what if I’m in the middle of counting and I get mixed up and-“

“Please!”

Rich took a deep breath. He wasn’t a yeller and his patience was something he treasured. However, he was pretty sure Artie had been sent to him by the universe as some sort of test. Maybe if he passed it, he could finally get a fucking boyfriend. He brought his voice down several notches.

“I apologize, Artie. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that. But it would really make me happy if you could please take care of that for me. Please?”

Artie shrugged, taking the clipboard. “Sure, Rich. You don’t have to get your panties in a twist.”

After Artie had finally made his way to the stockroom, Rich angled his body around to face Espinoza. The expression radiating back at him was one of amusement. Espinoza’s gaze was still pinned on him. He arched an eyebrow.

“Alone at last.”

Rich reined in the urge to titter, giggle or otherwise sound like a goofball in response. He cleared his throat again instead, not sure what to say or where they’d left off in the conversation before the Artie tsunami had swept through.

“Jay?”

Rich blinked at him a few times, attempting to make the connection between Jay and the amazing brown eyes staring back at him. How could such a tough-looking guy have such beautiful long lashes? It wasn’t fair.

Rich shook his head in frustration. He hated unexpected moments. Planning his behavior and responses perfectly kept him from feeling out of control and stupid. When he’d finally worked up the nerve to ask Brett out to coffee, he’d practiced what he was going to say for a week in advance. He had no problem coming up with witty repartee under normal circumstances, was easily the social butterfly when necessary and the customers loved him, but a potential date? He’d turn into a tongue-tied hot mess.

“The whole Jay thing was a fail. In short, I’ll never be seeing or speaking to him again, so I wouldn’t let that be of concern.”

Meet the author:

Author Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after. If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011. Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.

Our thoughts:

I can’t get enough of stories with a sweet guy being protected by his big, bad cop boyfriend. That’s what eventually happens in Searching for Shelter after Diego and Alex start dating.

Watching each other from afar just isn’t cutting it for Diego so he takes the plunge and asks the cute barista, Alex, out. Alex had just endured another date from hell. He’s more than anxious to see what Diego has to offer.

From the beginning these two are a fun couple. They’re consumed with getting to know each other, being open and having fun. They take it slow and really get comfortable. Courting at its best.

They become invested in each others choices, careers, friends and most importantly, their happiness. Diego is impressed with Alex, he’s a hard worker and gives so much of his time and talent to the homeless shelter.

The Search and Rescue side of Diego really shines through. Diego is extremely calm, sweet, thoughtful and all about taking care of Alex. His protective side really shines through and is welcomed when they discover someone is out to kill Alex after he witnesses a murder.

This story had the prefect amount of love and support mixed with suspense and drama. Reading Morticia Knight is always a treat!